Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textiles Museum

Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textiles Museum

(MGCATTM)

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries – Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR, for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications. Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational rivers, and the MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river basins. The MGC is also indicative of the civilizational, cultural and commercial linkages among the member countries of the MGC down the centuries.

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India during his visit to Cambodia in April 2002 announced grant for setting up of the "MGC Asian Traditional Textiles Museum" at Siem Reap Cambodia. The Cambodian government allotted one hectare of land in a prime location in Siem Reap for this project. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was designated by the Government of India as the nodal agency for implementing the project. APSARA is the nodal body for the project on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Hon'ble Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil the President of India, laid the foundation stone for MGC Asian Traditional Textiles Museum at the allocated land in Siem Reap during her visit in September 2010. The construction of the Museum was completed in December 2011. Work on operationalising the Museum started in 2012 spearheaded by Ambassador Dinesh Patnaik in Cambodia and with the appointment of Prof. Charu Smita Gupta as the Director of the Museum. The soft opening of the Museum was held on April 7, 2014 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Dr. Sok An and Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India Mr. Anil Wadhwa.

MGCATTM, the first museum of its kind in Cambodia has exhibits on textiles from the Mekong Ganga region along with interactive facilities. It also has a training centre and workshop in textiles; a fashion design and development centre using traditional ethnic designs; and various children activities in the centre. It also helps preserve the ageold tradition of textiles in this region. This museum is yet another attraction for the large number of tourists coming to Siem Reap.

MGCATTM aims to make the viewing and understanding of variegated styles of textiles, their processes and contemporary fashion etc. a joyful and enriching experience.